The EU wants to end all Russian gas imports. Moscow’s friends in the bloc say it’s a ‘serious mistake’

Russia’s allies in Japanese Europe say Brussels plans to end all Russian gas and power imports in the coming years are tantamount to “financial suicide” and a risk to the area’s power safety and economic system.

The European Fee introduced plans on Tuesday to part out Russian gas, nuclear power and liquefied pure gas (LNG) imports by the end of 2027, saying the transfer “paves the approach to guarantee the EU’s full power independence from Russia.”

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 prompted the EU to ban most seaborne imports of Russian oil, coal and refined petroleum merchandise, however decreasing gas flows has proved tougher. In 2024, nearly 19% of the EU’s gas and LNG imports nonetheless got here from Russia, in accordance to information from the European Fee, though that is down from 2021 when 45% of the area’s gas got here from the main oil and gas exporter.

The EU’s newest proposals have already prompted a livid response from jap European nations which have historically been extra reliant on cheaper power provides from Russia, and which repeatedly warn of upper power costs for shoppers as a results of banning such provides.

Slovakia and Hungary, whose governments have maintained heat ties with Moscow regardless of the warfare in Ukraine, described the EU’s newest plans as a “critical mistake” that may hurt the area.

“We acknowledge the strategic objective of decreasing power dependence on third international locations, and Slovakia is prepared to work on this along with the European Union however … that is merely financial suicide to agree that neither gas, nor nuclear, nor oil [can be imported from Russia], that all the pieces should end simply because some new Iron Curtain is being constructed between the Western world and maybe Russia and different international locations,” Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico stated Wednesday, in feedback reported by Slovak information company TASR and translated by Google.

Hungarian Overseas Minister Péter Szijjártó stated Wednesday that the EU’s proposals have been “politically motivated” and a “critical mistake.”

“It threatens power safety, drives up costs and violates sovereignty. They need us to bear the price of their reckless help for Ukraine and its rushed EU accession. We firmly reject this,” the minister commented on X.

Each Hungary and Slovakia have pushed again in opposition to earlier EU initiatives to reduce power ties with Moscow, as a substitute opting to keep provides amid fears of mounting power prices at dwelling.

Each have additionally been vocally important of giving extra army and monetary help to Ukraine and have beforehand threatened refused to again the EU’s common extensions of sanctions in opposition to Russia. Each seemed to extract concessions from the bloc earlier than approving their renewal, most not too long ago in March.

In saying its newest plans to distance itself from Russia, the EU stated Tuesday that its “roadmap” to phasing out all Russian power imports would first introduce a ban on all imports of Russian gas (each pipeline and LNG) below new contracts and current spot contracts, which might take impact by the end of 2025, earlier than all remaining imports are phased out by the end of 2027.

The Fee’s legislative proposals, to be introduced in June, would require approval from the European Parliament and a certified majority of member states, which means the plans can’t be vetoed by simply a few international locations.

“We will undertake it with out unanimity,” European Commissioner for Power Dan Jorgensen stated in a press convention Tuesday, including, “I hope that everyone will vote for it, clearly, but when they do not, that can be okay, that can be a part of the European Union that generally the majority makes selections when essential.”

He added that the bloc was at present in an “unacceptable state of affairs” in which it was depending on a Russian state and chief, President Vladimir Putin, who had “chosen to weaponize power.” He added that importing Russian gas had not directly helped to fill the Kremlin’s “warfare chests” to proceed its warfare in opposition to Ukraine.

The Fee stated in its assertion Tuesday that it envisaged a “gradual and well-coordinated” strategy throughout bloc, with member states being requested to put together nationwide plans by the end of this yr “setting out how they may contribute to phasing out imports of Russian gas, nuclear power and oil.” It’s unsure whether or not Slovakia and Hungary will accede to the request.

A Fee spokesperson advised CNBC Wednesday that it “will work carefully with all Member States on the implementation of this plan, particularly with these principally involved.  This is the reason we’re proposing a gradual and well-managed phaseout, which is backed by steady efforts at diversification and higher use of power infrastructure.”

CNBC has requested the Kremlin for a response to the EU’s proposals and is awaiting a reply.